Districts tighten social media rules among teachers, students

Social media has become tricky to navigate as electronic teacher-student communication becomes more common

School officials are tasked with trying to figure out how to embrace the seemingly limitless educational advantages of the internet and social media tools, but preventing them from being used to initiate and foster covert, inappropriate relationships among staff and students.

“There have always been inappropriate relationships between teachers and students,” said Gretchen Shipley, a San Diego attorney who has created a practice around education and technology. “But I think it has been more of a growing problem because the breaking down of barriers with social media and the ease with which you can talk with each other.”

It’s a dilemma for school leaders across the nation.

Next page: How schools and districts across the U.S. are addressing the issue